Organics management for businesses
Many businesses in Washington must arrange for organic materials collection, as required by a 2022 Organics Management Law expanding organics management and collection in the state.
Business Organics Management Areas (BOMA)
By July 1 each year we are required under RCW 70A.205.545 to determine and post on our website where businesses in Washington state must arrange for organics management services to reduce their organic material waste. This determination covers the period from January 1 to December 31 for the following year.
This map represents the expanded organics collection areas between Jan. 1, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2024. Areas in blue indicate the active collection areas for 2024.
The BOMA represents those parts of the state where we have determined both these conditions exist:
- Businesses have access to year-round curbside food waste and organic materials collection, and these materials are delivered to an organics management facility such as a compost facility or anaerobic digester for processing.
- Capacity exists at these facilities to accept increased volumes of organic materials from businesses.
To make this determination, we consulted with local governments, haulers, and compost facilities. We also solicited public comment on a preliminary draft of the BOMA map through our E-comments portal. The map reflects what we learned through this process.
Organics collection requirements timeline for businesses
Only businesses located in the BOMA and dispose of a certain volume of organic materials and solid waste will be impacted. You can find out if a particular business is in the BOMA by using the address search bar in the top left corner of the BOMA map.
Below is a list of the types of businesses in a BOMA that will be impacted and when:
Jan. 1, 2024 – Businesses generating at least eight cubic yards of organic material waste per week must arrange for organic materials management service.
Jan. 1, 2025 – Businesses generating at least four cubic yards of organic material waste per week must arrange for organic materials management service.
Jan. 1, 2026 – Businesses generating at least four cubic yards of solid waste per week must arrange for organic materials management service.
These requirements also apply to businesses arranging for gardening and landscape work. Following the schedule above, they must ensure that an organics management facility will process the organic materials taken off site.
Contact information
Organics management team
509-960-1290
organics@ecy.wa.gov